U.S. patent application number 10/907912 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-09 for lacrosse handle.
Invention is credited to David Morrow.
Application Number | 20070184923 10/907912 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38334731 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070184923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morrow; David |
August 9, 2007 |
LACROSSE HANDLE
Abstract
In one embodiment, an improved handle (12) for attachment to a
lacrosse head (10) is provided. The improved handle (12) includes a
generally tubular member (14) having a top end (16) for attachment
to a lacrosse head (18) and a bottom end (20) opposite thereto. The
top end (16) and the bottom end (20) have a longitudinal reference
line (22) extending generally therebetween. The lateral width of
one portion of the generally tubular member (14) is larger than the
lateral width of another portion of the generally tubular member
(14), which is offset from the first portion along the longitudinal
reference line (22).
Inventors: |
Morrow; David; (Metamora,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARTZ & ARTZ, P.C.
28333 TELEGRAPH RD.
SUITE 250
SOUTHFIELD
MI
48034
US
|
Family ID: |
38334731 |
Appl. No.: |
10/907912 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60563870 |
Apr 20, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/513 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/08 20151001;
A63B 60/10 20151001; A63B 2102/14 20151001; A63B 59/20 20151001;
A63B 60/06 20151001; A63B 2209/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/513 |
International
Class: |
A63B 59/02 20060101
A63B059/02 |
Claims
1. A handle for attachment to a lacrosse head, comprising: an
elongated generally tubular member having a top end for attachment
to a lacrosse head and a bottom end opposite to said top end, said
elongated generally tubular member further having hollow tube
construction with an inner surface and an outer surface; a
longitudinal reference line extending generally between said top
end and said bottom end of said elongated generally tubular member;
and a lateral reference line extending generally perpendicularly
through said longitudinal reference line and having a predetermined
orientation for assisting in defining an inner diameter and an
outer diameter of said elongated generally tubular member; wherein
said inner diameter is defined between opposing sides of said inner
surface along said lateral reference line; wherein said outer
diameter is defined between opposing sides of said outer surface
along said lateral reference line; wherein said outer diameter
varies in dimension as taken across said longitudinal reference
line.
2. The handle recited in claim 1 wherein said outside diameter near
said top end of said elongated generally tubular member is larger
than said outside diameter near said bottom end of said elongated
generally tubular member.
3. The handle recited in claim 1 wherein said outside diameter
gradually increases toward at least one of said top end and said
bottom end elongated generally tubular member.
4. The handle recited in claim 1 wherein said outside diameter
abruptly increases toward one of said top end and said bottom
end.
5. The handle recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated generally
tubular member has a length comprised of: at least one
generally-narrow portion adapted for being gripped by a hand; at
least one generally-wide portion having a larger outside diameter
than that of said at least one generally-narrow portion; and at
least one generally-short portion in connection therebetween with
said outside diameter substantially increasing from said at least
one generally-narrow portion to said at least one generally-wide
portion.
6. The handle recited in claim 5 wherein said generally-narrow
portion has a substantially constant outside diameter.
7. The handle recited in claim 5 wherein said generally-wide
portion has a substantially constant outside diameter.
8. The handle recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated generally
tubular member has at least one of a hydroformed construction, a
pressed construction, a swaged construction, an extrusion
construction, and an injection-molded construction.
9. A handle for attachment to a lacrosse head, comprising: an
elongated shaft having a top end for attachment to a lacrosse head
and a bottom end opposite to said top end; wherein said elongated
shaft has a variable girth as taken along the length of said
elongated shaft toward at least one of said top end and said bottom
end.
10. The handle recited in claim 9 wherein said variable girth
gradually increases toward at least one of said top end and said
bottom end.
11. The handle recited in claim 9 wherein said variable girth
abruptly increases toward at least one of said top end and said
bottom end.
12. The handle recited in claim 9 wherein said elongated shaft has
a length comprised of: at least one generally-thin portion adapted
for being gripped by a hand; at least one generally-thick portion
sized with a larger girth than said at least one generally-thin
portion; and at least one generally-short portion in connection
therebetween with said variable girth substantially increasing from
said at least one generally-thin portion to said at least one
generally-thick portion.
13. The handle recited in claim 12 wherein said generally-thin
portion has a substantially constant girth.
14. The handle recited in claim 12 wherein said generally-thick
portion has a substantially constant girth.
15. The handle recited in claim 9 wherein said elongated shaft is a
single-piece structure.
16. The handle recited in claim 9 wherein said elongated shaft has
at least one of a hydroformed construction, a pressed construction,
a swaged construction, and an injection-molded construction.
17. A handle for attachment to a lacrosse head, comprising: a
hollow rod having a top end adapted for coupling to a lacrosse
head, a bottom end opposite to said top end, and at least two
length portions extending between said top end and said bottom end
with one of said length portions having a lateral cross-section
sized larger than the other of said length portions.
18. The handle recited in claim 17 further comprising: at least one
transition portion extending between said at least two length
portions with said lateral cross-section substantially changing
therebetween.
19. The handle recited in claim 17 wherein at least one of said
length portions has a substantially constant lateral cross-section
thereacross.
20. The handle recited in claim 17 wherein said hollow rod is a
single-piece construction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/563,870, filed on Apr. 20, 2004, entitled
"Tapered Lacrosse Handle," and is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 10/906,734, filed on Mar. 3,
2005, entitled "Improved Handle For Attachment To A Lacrosse Head,"
which are both incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to lacrosse
equipment, and more particularly to an improved handle for
attachment to a lacrosse head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Lacrosse manufacturers increasingly develop equipment for
improving a player's performance in the game. One significant
development was the introduction of lacrosse handles having a
hollow metal tube construction. These metal handles were developed
to replace prior wooden handles, which were susceptible to water
damage and were somewhat heavy and cumbersome. To that end, the
current hollow metal handles are typically comprised of aluminum or
titanium and provide durable constructions that enhance a player's
ability to manipulate and carry the handle.
[0004] A typical hollow metal handle is an extrusion having a
uniform lateral cross-section across the length of the handle. This
construction typically does not provide tactile feedback as to the
position of the player's hands on the handle. For instance, a
defensive player having a stick with a relatively long handle would
not know if he is holding a top portion, a bottom portion, or a
middle portion of the handle without first visually inspecting the
handle.
[0005] One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that
informing the player about the position of his hands on the handle
without requiring visual inspection can enhance his ability to play
the game. Specifically, it is understood that the position of a
player's hands can determine how the player cradles, passes, or
shoots the ball. In other words, the player can grip a portion of
the handle best suited for handling or throwing the ball in a
predetermined manner.
[0006] In addition, it is also understood that a player can use his
sight for obtaining a clear vision of the field, e.g. identifying
which teammates are open or will be open to receive his pass.
[0007] It would therefore be desirable to provide a lacrosse handle
that improves a player's perception of the field while maintaining
his ability to throw or pass the ball in a desired way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore one advantage of the present invention to
provide an improved handle for attachment to a lacrosse head that
provides tactile feedback as to the position of a player's hands on
the handle.
[0009] It is another advantage of the present invention to provide
an improved handle for attachment to a lacrosse head that has a
relatively strong construction for resisting fractures or other
breakage.
[0010] It is yet another advantage of the present invention to
provide an improved handle for attachment to a lacrosse head that
is substantially lightweight for conserving a player's energy and
enhancing his ability to perform in the game.
[0011] It is still another advantage of the present invention to
provide an improved handle for attachment to a lacrosse head that
is resistant to corrosion and/or other damage, e.g. damage caused
by exposure to water.
[0012] In accordance with the above and other advantages of one
embodiment of the invention, an improved handle for attachment to a
lacrosse head is provided. The improved handle includes a generally
tubular member having a top end for attachment to a lacrosse head
and a bottom end opposite the top end. The top end and the bottom
end have a centerline axis extending generally therebetween as a
longitudinal reference line. Furthermore, the elongated generally
tubular member has a lateral reference line extending through the
longitudinal reference line. The lateral reference line is
positioned in a predetermined orientation for assisting in defining
an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the tubular member.
[0013] Specifically, in this embodiment, the elongated generally
tubular member is a hollow tube construction with an inner surface
and an outer surface. The inner surface has opposing sides, as
viewed along the lateral reference line, for defining the inner
diameter. Similarly, the outer surface has opposing sides, as
viewed along the lateral reference line, for defining the outer
diameter. This outer diameter varies in dimension across the
longitudinal reference line for providing tactile stimulation.
[0014] Other advantages of the invention will become apparent when
viewed in light of the detailed description in conjunction with the
attached drawings and appended claims. Also, it is contemplated
that the features, the functions, and the advantages can be
achieved independently and in various embodiments of the present
invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] For a more complete understanding of this invention,
reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in
greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by
way of examples of the invention:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an improved handle for
attachment to a lacrosse head, according to one advantageous
embodiment of the claimed invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in FIG.
1 as taken along line 2-2.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the handle shown in FIG.
1 as taken along line 3-3.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an improved handle for
attachment to a lacrosse head, according to another advantageous
embodiment of the claimed invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an improved handle for
attachment to a lacrosse head, according to yet another
advantageous embodiment of the claimed invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an improved handle for
attachment to a lacrosse head, according to still another
advantageous embodiment of the claimed invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] In the following figures, the same reference numerals are
used to identify the same or similar components in the various
views.
[0023] The present invention is particularly suited for an improved
handle having a "baseball bat-like" construction for providing
tactile feedback regarding the position of a player's hands on the
handle. For this reason, the illustrated embodiments described
herein have features as the context permits. However, as
exemplified in FIGS. 4 through 6, it will be appreciated that the
improved handle can have various other suitable constructions for
providing tactile feedback as desired. In this respect, a variety
of other embodiments are contemplated having different combinations
of the described features, having features other than those
described herein, or even lacking one or more of those features.
The disclosed handle is preferably intended for the game of
lacrosse. However, the handle may also be utilized for other
sports.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a lacrosse stick 10
including an improved handle 12, according to one advantageous
embodiment of the claimed invention. This handle 12 gradually
tapers in width at a constant rate across its length. However, it
is contemplated that the handle 12 may instead taper or thicken
across its length at a variable rate or otherwise vary in grade as
desired.
[0025] This handle 12 is comprised of an elongated generally
tubular member 14 with a top end 16 for attachment to a lacrosse
head 18 and a bottom end 20 opposite thereto. The top end 16 and
the bottom end 20 have a longitudinal reference line 22 extending
generally therebetween. The longitudinal reference line 22
preferably defines the length of the handle 12. In an embodiment
where the handle 12 is straight, this line 22 extends along the
centerline of the tubular member 14.
[0026] Furthermore, the tubular member 14 has a lateral reference
line 17 extending through the longitudinal reference line 22. The
lateral reference line 17 is positioned in a predetermined
orientation for assisting in defining an inner diameter D.sub.I and
an outer diameter D.sub.O of the tubular member 14.
[0027] Specifically, in this embodiment, the tubular member 14 is a
hollow tube with an inner surface 15a and an outer surface 15b. The
inner surface 15a has opposing sides, as viewed along the lateral
reference line 17, for defining the inner diameter D.sub.I.
Similarly, the outer surface 15b has opposing sides, as viewed
along the lateral reference line 17, for defining the outer
diameter D.sub.O. This outer diameter D.sub.O varies in dimension
as taken along the longitudinal reference line 22 so as to provide
tactile feedback regarding the position of the player's hands on
the handle 12.
[0028] In this embodiment, as best shown in FIG. 3, the tubular
member 14 has an outer diameter D.sub.O near the top end 16 of the
handle 12 that is substantially larger than the outer diameter
D.sub.O near the bottom end 20 of the handle 12. Put another way,
the lateral cross-section of the handle 12 increases in its
peripheral dimension along a general direction from the bottom end
20 toward the top end 16 of the handle 12. In this respect, the
thickness of the tubular member 14 can inform the player as to the
location of his hands on the handle 12.
[0029] For instance, as shown in FIG. 2, a relatively thin portion
can provide tactile feedback indicating that the player's hand is
located near a bottom end 20 of the handle 12. Likewise, turning to
FIG. 3, a relatively thick portion provides tactile feedback
indicating to the player that his hand is near the top end 16 of
the handle 12. In this vein, the handle 12 eliminates the need for
the player to visually inspect the handle 12. As explained
hereinabove, this feature is beneficial for enhancing a player's
vision of the field and maintaining his ability to manipulate and
carry the handle 12.
[0030] However, it will be appreciated that the tubular member 14
can vary across the longitudinal reference line 22 in various other
ways for providing tactile feedback.
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 6, there are shown
exemplary constructions of the handle 12, according to other
advantageous embodiments of the claimed invention.
[0032] With regard to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the handle 12
has an overall length comprised of a bottom length portion 24 with
a substantially constant outside diameter and a top length portion
26 extending from the bottom length portion 24. The top length
portion 26 has an outside diameter D.sub.O that gradually increases
toward the top end 16 of the handle 12.
[0033] In this embodiment, the bottom length portion 24 extends
across a substantially shorter length of the handle 12 than the top
length portion 26. In this way, for instance, the bottom length
portion 24 can provide tactile stimulation for indicating where the
player can position his hands for shooting the ball. It will be
appreciated that this construction provides various other
advantages.
[0034] Regarding the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the bottom length
portion 24 having the substantially constant outside diameter
D.sub.O extends across a substantially longer length of the handle
12 than the top length portion 26. In this instance, the top length
portion 26 provides tactile feedback as to the player's hand being
located near the top end 16 of the handle 12. In that regard, for
example, the player can feel where to place his upper hand for
cradling the ball.
[0035] This advantage is also accomplished by another embodiment
exemplified in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the length of the handle
12 includes two generally thin portions 28, 28' adapted for being
gripped by a player's hands, two generally thick portions 30, 30'
having a larger girth than that of the generally thin portions 28,
28', and three transition portions 32, 32', 32'' therebetween.
[0036] Specifically, a first thin portion 28 has a substantially
constant girth and extends from the bottom end 20 toward the top
end 16 of the handle 12. This portion 28 has a first transition
portion 32 extending therefrom with a variable girth gradually
increasing toward the top end 16. Furthermore, the first transition
portion 32 has a first thick portion 30 extending therefrom toward
the top end 16.
[0037] In this embodiment, the first thick portion 30 comprises a
substantially short length of the handle 12 as a second transition
portion 32' extends therefrom substantially close to the first
transition portion 32. This second transition portion 32' has a
variable girth abruptly decreasing toward the top end 16 of the
handle 12 and terminating at a second thin portion 28'.
[0038] The second thin portion 28' has a substantially constant
girth dimensioned similar to that of the first thin portion 28. In
this respect, the second thin portion 28' can provide tactile
feedback as to where the player can locate his upper hand on the
handle 12 for cradling the ball. Moreover, the second thin portion
28' has a third transition portion 32'' extending therefrom with a
variable girth abruptly increasing toward the top end 16. This
steep increase in girth can stop a player's hand quickly sliding up
the handle 12. In this respect, the handle 12 can assist the player
in positioning his hand without the player consciously stopping his
hand in the desired location. Finally, from the third transition
portion 32'' extends a second thick portion 30'.
[0039] Referring back to FIG. 1, the tubular member 14 is in the
form of a one-piece hollow metal construction. For instance, the
tubular member 14 can be constructed of aluminum or titanium
material by a hydroforming process. However, it will be appreciated
that the tubular member 14 can instead be comprised of two or more
components of a composite laminate, a plastic, various other
suitable materials, or any combination thereof. Likewise, it is
contemplated that the tubular member 14 can be produced by an
injection molding process, a pressing process, a swaging process,
an extrusion process, various other suitable manufacturing
processes, or any combination thereof. Further, the tubular member
14 can take on a variety of different shapes and lengths as
desired.
[0040] While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments
will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended
that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended
claims.
* * * * *